4.3
Quality3.2
Difficulty79%
Would Retake101
Reviews79%
Would Retake
101
Reviews
Rating DistributionOfficial
5
72
4
13
3
6
2
4
1
6
What Students Say
“Von Kalm will have you laughing in every lecture”
PCB3063 - 5.0 rating“I highly recommend him”
PCB3063 - 5.0 ratingClass Info
Attendance Mandatory
68%
Textbook Required
28%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.38 avg changeRatings by Course
PCB4514
5.0
(9)GENTICS
5.0
(1)PCB6063
5.0
(1)BSC6935
5.0
(2)PCB3063H
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
PCB4514
3.7
PCB3233
3.5
PCB3063
3.1
GENETICS
3.1
BSC6935
3.0
Reviews (101)
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Good guy and a good class. The material is tough but he'll work with you and the tests are fair.
Absolutely the finest teacher I've ever had to good fortune of taking a class under. This man writes his tests fairly. He is extremely helpful outside of class (study sessions), and is genuinely concerned about the academic welfare of his students.
His tests are hard but if you read and do the problem sheets the information is straight forward. He is very helpful when you go to see him during his office hours...he held a review before each test at the request of the class....very helpful.
Course and material is difficult but professor is very helpful and most organized. You must know the material and do the problem sheets to get through the class. Tests are difficult but not impossible. Loved the class.
Very nice professor. Tests are very challenging, but if you do your homework problems you should do just fine. Also, he has a pretty good extra credit policy.
Dr. Von Kalm is one of the most helpful professors during his office hours. His test are challenging and tricky if problems aren't read thouroughly. He teaches very well so students get a great understanding of the material.
His exams are very tricky and very hard even if you study his lecture material.
Good professor, talks tough but very helpful. BEWARE the bait and switch, this class will enroll you with him, he teaches the first half and right after the drop class date they switch to a lady who can barely speak english and who lacks teaching skills
His lectures seem pretty straight forward...until you get to the test. Anyone teaching this class other than this guy is better to take than Von Kalm. His tests are set up to where the questions can have more than one answer. WARNING: Do not take this guy if you care about your GPA!!
One of the best professors I've had. Really knows his stuff and relays it well to the class. Takes assessments as to what the students are confused about and addresses these issues in class. Extremely helpful. If you do the problems sheets in repition, you should not have a problem on the tests.
This guy KNOWS HOW TO TEACH! Go to class, read his notes, do the prob sheets a time or two and the tests are a breeze. You don't need to read the book. I only missed 1 prob on each test so far. He teaches slow and clearly. Also, he is very interested in everyone learning and doing well. Take him!!!
Great teacher, Test are not tricky if you really understand the material and do the problem sheets. Goes out of his way to provide office hours and is always willing to help. This is the best teacher for Genetics!
Yes he is nice and has good office hours like everyone is saying. But the tests are not easy. Multiple answer possibiliites throw you off. Class goes by slow. The problem sheets help. Something that was only on one powerpoint slide may be 3 questions while a huge topic is only 1. Not enjoying it.
One of the best teachers at UCF. He really knows the subject well, he teaches effectively, and is very helpful both in and out of the class. I definitely recommend this teacher for any course he teaches.
Nice fellow, very passionate about teaching his lecture class. Great professor. Don't get behind, and study alot to do okay. Do all the hw sheets. Enjoyed lecture,but I would seriously would rather cut off my right arm before taking the #@*! 'n lab at 8 in the morning again.
tests and quizes are tricky. his lectures sound like he's reading straight from a textbook. he has great humor. availablity out of class is terrific.
Von Kalm is one of the best teachers I've ever had. I never made less than a 95 on any of the tests. He was always available to help if needed and has problem sheets that are just like the problems you have on the test. You have to study but this class shouldn't hurt your GPA.
This guy was great, yes you DO HAVE TO study to get an A and it is not an easy A. He is the best teacher you will come out with knowledge. If you want to learn and really are interested in genetics this guy is the best.
Great teacher... always ready to give extra help if needed. Very difficult class though!!!
He is not all that bad of a teach, but his test are extremlly hard.....STUDY STUDY
Great teacher, but tricky tests
Very funny teacher. Teaches very well, But you need to go to class. Very helpful. Enjoyed this class
Talks so clearly about genetics in a very direct manner which enables you to thoroughly understand the concept. Hands down the best professor I have ever had... ever. I would take every molecular biology class with him if I could. Make sure you complete problem sheets before every tests and you should get an A. Tests are very straightforward.
Dr. Von Kalm is very knowledgeable about genetic. He sometime speak so fast that you have a hard time understanding what the concept mean. You must read and do the homework before class or you be really lost. The test are extremely hard. It is a multiple choice test and some of the questions could contain more than one answers.
One of the greatest professors I'd ever taken. Teaches very well but his tests are a bit tricky. If you study and know your stuff, you're fine. :)
Genetics in general is a hard subject, however Von Kalm was very helpful and is overall a great professor. Do the problem sets in advance and get help if you don't understand the problems. Tests are long! I got a B and didn't go to class as much as I should have. Go to class! Great teacher
Great professor...one of the best at UCF, in my opinion. Always willing to help, so long as you meet him half way. His classes require studying, but are very passable if the effort is there. If you have any interest in genetics or related fields, look for classes that Dr. von Kalm teaches...you won't regret it.
I thought he was a great professor. He was funny and he made the subject a bit more interesting. The tests are a bit tricky but the worksheets help. I only did one worksheet because I focused on reading through the notes and book and taking my own notes. If I took the class again I would do the worksheets first and try to understand from there.
The man makes genetics interesting! His tests are a bit tricky, but doing the problem sheets certainly helps.
Good teacher, but tests are harder than you would think they'd be.
He is by far THE BEST Bio Prof at UCF. I would take everyclass he ever teaches if there was anymore. He made the class interesting & interactive. No boring lectures. There were 4 tests, 10 critical thinking exercises & a short paper which made up ur grade. There was no curving. Umainly go off of his ppts and DEF. attend class. U apply the material.
Great professor. I took the honors section in the spring and the class was enjoyable. He loves the material and it shows. Tests were not hard at all but did require a little reviewing. Do the problem sets and you'll breeze right through.
Great teacher! Von Kalm's class was very interesting and his teaching style will keep your attention, with a little bit of comedy. His test's however are NOT multiple choice in an way. They are complicated, and very hard.
Very Clear and teaches very well. He expects a great amount of work from students though. The tests are pretty tough and not multiple choice. Really makes you think, you'll have to devise experiments every test. But once u get the hang its not as daunting. Highly recommended. There were always about 10/60 with A's on tests.
Dr. Von Kalm is a great professor. He is an engaging and humorous lecturer, and is easy to reach through email. He wants everyone to do well, and he tries to make it very possible.
Dr. Von Kalm is an awesome teacher! He gives you all the materials you need to perform well and the class itself is curved along with curves he gives you on tests. IF YOU CAN TAKE HIM DO IT... you won't regret it. He is hilarious and is always willing to help students with anything.
Prof Vonkalm is very straightforward about what he wants you to know! He selects problems out of the chapter practice problems that he wants you to do. If you do the practice problems at least once, the test will look extremely familiar! If a majority of the class gets a question wrong, he will throw it out. EXTREMELY fair grading..
Nice guy. Tries to be funny. Don't buy the book. Do all the problem sets he gives you and go to his office if you don't understand any problem. Know the powerpoints. Tests were multiple choice. Tricky but not impossible. I got an A.
Good teacher, and seems to know the subject very well. Go over the powerpoints and the problem sets and you will be fine
Took Genetics over summer in 6 weeks with him. Yes the time frame and course were difficult, however he is a very very good teacher. He explains the material very well and is more then willing to offer you help. And I thought his jokes were funny most of the time :)
I loved Prof. Von Kalm. I took genetics over summer in 6 weeks, which wasn't easy but he is very straight forward with what he expects you to know. He gives you which problem sets to focus on, do so and you'll pass the exams. One of the best teachers at UCF. (And yes his jokes are funny)
Dr. von Kalm is an amazing professor that is always able and willing to explain the material, inside or outside of class. Tests are on understanding, not memorization. He puts the optional problem sets online, so no need to buy the book. Yes, you may have to study to get an A, but your grade truly reflects your understanding.
Vol Kalm is a very funny man! He is very nice and helpful. Most of his test questions are from the powerpoint and you have to understand the concepts.
He subbed for my original prof so I only took 3/5 of his exams but I wish I had him since the start. Exam questions may seem tricky but if you pay attention in class, understand the ppts and do the problem sets it would be a piece of cake. I studied a few days before the exam and did extremely well.
I took genetics during summer term A. There was a ton of material in a short amount of time, but Dr. Von Kalm provided all of the tools needed for success. Practicing the problem sets is mandatory if you want a good grade, but the book was an unnecessary purchase.
Well-engaged, respectful, and cognizant of student perspectives. Light-hearted, but adequately serious.
Honestly, one of my favorite professors at UCF. Very laid back and personable. He advised us not to get to stressed out about the homework (being that it was a 1 credit course). However, I found myself working extra hard because of the enormous respect I had for him. You could do minimal work and get the grade, but impressing him took effort.
Great guy, makes lectures less boring.
I had Dr. Von Kalm for the second half of genetics, and enjoyed the class SO much! He makes lectures light, interesting, and funny, which helps a lot considering iClicker makes attendance mandatory. He is by no means an "easy" professor, but is more than fair. Take him if you get the chance!
He's horrible. took him over summer along with organic chem 2. He got personally offended when he found out I was taking orgo with genetics and he told me i need to drop orgo because he sets up genetics to be taken alone in the summer, and makes it too hard to juggle with other classes he said. I ended with a 69 and he would pass me.
Extremely hilarious! Makes me want to attend his classes just for the humor behind his lectures! Exams are rather difficult but he does a very good job explaining during class. He tells you what he expects and offers his best suggestions for learning the material. Powerpoints, clickers, quizzes, and textbook practice probs make up the test
he's a fair professor. had him for second half. his powerpoints are straight forward. his tests are just like the powerpoints and problem sets. do the problem sets!!! helps you understand material
Extremely funny and nice guy. This class however is very tough in general. Attendance is not mandatory, however if you skip class too often you will not pass his exams. Exams are multiple choice with two or three short response. Online homework and quiz for each chapter all due the morning of the tests. You really have to work hard for your grade.
This class is overall difficult. The professor's tests are extremely challenging, however, he does provide all of the resources necessary to succeed. The professor is accessible outside of class and willing to answer any questions. He tries to keep the mood light and is a rather funny professor. Do the problem sets if you want to succeed!
Von Kalm tries to make Genetics as straightforward as possible. His exams are heavily based on his powerpoints and textbook problem sets. Sapling homework/quizzes seem more like busy work but slight grade boosters. He definitely knows what he's teaching and jokes around in class a lot. Problem sets are very important. Don't sleep on the final.
Dr. Von Kalm will have you laughing in every lecture. However, the material is difficult and you will have to study very hard for his exams. Although his class is intense, he's the kind of professor you'd want to grab a beer with.
Von Kalm is a great professor. The lectures are clear and the additional reading material is helpful, but he goes above and beyond to be accessible outside of class and is always willing to discuss your answers with you and give back points if you make a good argument. 4 tests and critical thinking exercise. Highly recommend this class!
If you have the choice would not recommend taking this Professor. When I took the class was very unorganized and posted homework assignments at last minute. The class is mostly tests and does not curve even if student do not do well.
Wouldn't recommend taking him. Exams are made to trick students and organized poorly.
The professor is helpful. However, this was a summer class, only 8 weeks & there are TONNES of material to cover. Each exam 4/ 5 chapters. Exams are hard. Professor gives HW online plus problems from the textbook. THIS is too much. I was never able to solve all assigned problems. Lectures are heavy! Don't take this class in summer.
Took the class in the summer. It's a lot of material covered in 8 weeks. Very test heavy and detail oriented. I recommend reading the textbook, attend lecture, do the HW, try the problem set, then the day before, take the quiz. He clearly cares about his students, accessible and reasonable, lectures well too. This is an upper level science course.
Very accessible. Honors class has 5 tests, all long response (in a good way). Opportunity to retake one test after final.
He was definitely a funny and very likable professor. That being said, he states that he is not trying to trick us or be unfair, but would also blame the students for widely missed exam questions. Which seems redundant. Years of teaching this class has noticeably made him less forgiving, but he hasnt realized. Problem sets will be your main focus.
Clicker questions during every class so go! I never even looked at the book I used his slides. DO THE PROBLEM SETS, they really help for exams. He's hilarious and very considerate. I highly recommend him.
Dr. Von Kalm is the best professor I've ever had. He teaches the concepts perfectly. Exams are challenging but not impossible, and doing the optional problem sets prepared me well. Weekly HW and quiz are easy. Optional final to replace an exam grade. Attendance is mandatory, but I wanted to come to his class everyday regardless. Highly recommend.
VonKalm was a pretty funny prof, he was one of the better professors I've had during my time at UCF! Textbook not needed one bit, Exams 70-80% of your grade, but he gives "practice problems" with solutions/explanations on Webcourses that are pretty much the exact questions on the exam. I would definitely recommend him!
Honestly this guy has an amazing personality and a great sense of humor. I'm not sure if I ended up with a C or not, but I would say that was all on me because this professor was great. I'm just personally not the best at genetics. He gives you problem sets, but on the tests he really does test you to see if you can apply the concepts well.
He is truly a hilarious professor and knows lots about genetics. The exams often have an average in the low 70s, but it is not impossible to do well. He always provides sample problems that are just like the test questions. There are four exams, but there are homework grades to help balance out. He does use iClicker, though. Overall, take him!
Wouldnt recommend this class if you are weak in genetics or if you performed poorly in Bio 1. The class itself its tedious and exams are HEAVY . This was my only C this semester and he does NOT curve. The professor himself sounds approachable in class but once you go to his office its a different story. Take at your own risk.
Does NOT curve despite most of the class doing poorly on exams (extremely hard). I regret not looking more into the ratings and comments because the class is far more harder than I expected; I worked hard for an A and never missed a day of class, still ended up getting a C. Should've acknowledged the warning signs and withdrew before the deadline.
Don't really understand why other people are complaining about this class. He tells you at the beginning of the semester (and multiple times throughout it) that you NEED to practice problem sets. Practice with the problem sets before each exam and its an easy A. Homework is simple and only takes 20min per chapter. As for him, hes great at teaching
Overall, Von Kalm is a great professor. He's funny and accessible outside of class along with his TAs. Look over power points and do his problem sets (can't stress that enough). Clicker questions and homework helps your grade; don't skip class. The SI sessions helped a ton as well. The class can be difficult but not impossible if you put in work.
Study practice problem sets & powerpoints! Hes not one to just read straight off of power points & explains and makes it interesting and easier to understand. Tests are difficult and application is really important. Definitely a grade needed to be worked for but class has an automatic curve with a 77% as a B- ! Hes also really funny. Study up!
Avoid. He doesn't have assigned test date in his syllabus and will decide once he has covered all the chapters. I spent the entire semester stressing that none of my other class exams overlap with his random assigned test date. Extremely unorganized. You can not view the percentage of how you are doing in the class on gradebook bc he has it muted.
Dr. von Kalm is a great professor. I loved his lectures and his exams were pretty straightforward as long as you put in the work. His TA Joanne was my saving grace. If you go to his office hours and his TAs office hours, you'll def get an A. DO THE PROBLEM SETS!!!
Dr. von Kalm is one of my favorite professors Ive ever had at UCF. Definitely the funniest teacher Ive had. He is a hilarious, sarcastic Australian who will have you laughing until you cry and hes a fantastic teacher. Tests are fair but you have to study and work the practice problems. He will stay at his office for hours to help you.
Do not take this guy. Very corrupt. His critical thinking exercises are pointless and a gigantic waste of time. Tests were all written and a pain. Made you come up with experiments in some assignments, and he has taken points off for experiments that were well executed, just not what he wanted to hear. very stressful do not recommend.
4 exams that are 60% of your total grade that are in person & not open notes. No comprehensive final. To study, read the ppts, do the problem sets and watch YT videos. He's a good lecturer & he's friendly if you talk to him outside of class. As long as you put in the work for this class, you'll do well. An 87-89 is an A- on his grading scale.
One of the best professors I've ever had. He explains things really well and in a simple way. I could understand things that in other classes were never clear to me. Take this class before taking Molecular Biology I, it will help a lot. Tests are super fair, with no tricky questions. Many questions are taken directly from the problem sets, do them!
He was awesome! This class is a big time commitment in the summer, so I would recommend taking it in the fall/spring instead. Know PPT information in and out, and do the problem sets multiple times!!! Book is optional to purchase, but I did and reading really helped with understanding the information. Very caring & considerate professor!
Dr. Vonkalm was one of my favorite professors at UCF. I had him for both genetics 1 and genetics 2 and thought he was great at teaching both. While neither course is an easy pass, as long as you put in the work you will surely succeed. All of his exams are fair and he is one of the few science professors that actually cares about your well-being.
Nice guy! His class was powerpoint based followed with supplemental readings. Just go to class and follow along and you should do fine! Only thing is this class is FRQs only, however don't let that scare you. This class wasn't bad at all, just study the powerpoints and understand rather than memorize the material! I would take him again and again.
I took genetics with him. Interesting lecturer, funny guy, and overall makes the class easy. Test are curved so even if you get all the hard questions wrong, you still get a B on it. Honestly, you shouldn't even need the curve because the tests are all very straightforward. Just pay attention in class, review before the exams, and it's an easy A.
Dr. Laurence Von Kalm has been the best professor that I've taken at UCF. He gives you everything you need to pass the class and also curves the exams to bring the class average up. Class is mandatory since he does clicker questions but he drops 10% of them.
Ended very close to a C+ (~0.3%). This professor has been amazing from start to finish, he truly cares about his students and clearly has a lot of knowledge on the material. I attended every class, and nearly all office hours minus like 2. Summer class, 3 exams, easy homework/quizzes, iClicker questions in which 10% is dropped. Highly recommend!
Honestly a really great and chill guy! It is a little test heavy, as they take up 75% of your final grade. It is a lot of information, but it is definitely doable if you pay attention, review outside of class, and do all of the HWs and quizzes. Definitely want to attend lectures for the iclicker points. Highly recommend!
Dr. Von Klam was a really nice professor yes but his tests always averaged a D in the class and he would only curve a few points so the average was a C. Everyone's advice on here did not help his class was difficult and I have to retake with a different professor in the fall. I would study everything and nothing helped me pass.
Dr. von Kalm truly is one of the best professor I've taken at UCF. You need to study for his class but if you do his practice problems, take notes, and make Quizlets or Anki on his lectures slides and give yourself 4-5 days to practice the exams will be straight forward. He is also helpful during his office hours to answer any questions.
Professor is lecture heavy, doesn't give study guides his class are long and boring and attendance is mandatory.He is funny at times but still a boring class
professor von kalm is definitely lecture heavy, as attendance is mandatory, but honestly i NEVER take "attendance mandatory" profs because i get scared that if i miss once i'll fail the class. von kalm isnt like that at all, and the attendance work is actually helpful for once. his exams are simple if you do the problem sets and hes hilarious!!
His powerpoints tell you what will be on the exam, and they are very easy to understand. Test questions weren't too hard, and his lectures are pretty interesting. Gives you a lot of resources to study for the exams.
I loved this class! Von Kalm is a great lecturer and spends part of the class refreshing on old material. Lots of options for office hours. He provides practice questions that are very helpful for the exams. Don't let people who say this class is hard scare you. It's not difficult you just have to put the work in. Do practice sets a few times each.
AMAZING!!! He gives you all the resources to succeed, you just need to use them. If you do the practice sets he gives and UNDERSTAND them then the exams will be a breeze. I study for maybe 1-2 hours for an exam but go to lecture and genuinely pay attention. I also like that he includes content thats not on the test but is interesting to know.
Great professor with really well made exams which actually test your knowledge. Dr. Von Kalm lectures well and while it was a little bit annoying that Iclickers made up 10% of your grade, I cannot complain too much. He is also very approachable after class to answer any questions.
Really amazing lecturer. With how good his lectures are, you can get away with just going to lectures and really paying attention and still get an A. Definitely do the problem sets- he's not kidding when he says they're important. Basically all the test content will be covered there, they'll help you understand the content. Super cool professor.
I've had a lot of professors at UCF, but I'll definitely say that Von Kalm has been my favorite so far. I actually really enjoyed his class. His lectures were super easy to follow, and every class he would do a quick summary of what he went over the last class. The best part is that he would always make jokes in class, and his exams felt very fair!
This professor is brilliant, not only does he present all of the information in an easily understandable way but he makes jokes that make it even easier to remember! Every expectation is clear-cut, and while the homework content itself is difficult he really does the most to ensure anyone can pass. Attend his lectures and do the problem sets!!
While the class lectures were engaging and informative, I was often put off by the professor's tone in emails, which felt unprofessional and occasionally rude. Frequent grammar mistakes in communication also made interactions feel careless. Almost every email had issues.
He's wonderful. We worked in groups during lecture to answer questions + he was a great lecturer. V fun class. Graded on 3 tests, and 2 types of weekly exercises that we also did in groups. Final has 3 parts, and any part(s) can be taken to replace grades for tests 1-3. Exams were FRQs but not hard, v straightforward. He wants you to succeed
He is a great professor! Exams are written and attendance is not mandatory. Lots of group discussion and practice problems during class. He is helpful over email and in office hours. I recommend this class and professor especially if you're going into a genetics related field.
Class Info
Attendance Mandatory
68%
Textbook Required
28%
Grade Predictor
Your expected effort level
Predicted Grade
B+
Grade Distribution
Common Tags
Rating Trend
Declining
-0.38 avg changeRatings by Course
PCB4514
5.0
(9)GENTICS
5.0
(1)PCB6063
5.0
(1)BSC6935
5.0
(2)PCB3063H
5.0
(1)Difficulty by Course
PCB4514
3.7
PCB3233
3.5
PCB3063
3.1
GENETICS
3.1
BSC6935
3.0